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"Our Opportunity in the Americas"

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered remarks on “Our Opportunity in the Americas” at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on March 18, 2011. The Secretary spoke about President Barack Obama's upcoming travel to Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador and discussed how different areas of opportunity will be a roadmap for U.S. engagement in the region. Secretary Clinton said:

"...Now, obviously, there is a lot going on around the world and much that demands our urgent attention from the historic changes in the Middle East and North Africa where I just was yesterday to the tragedy unfolding in Japan. But as I often say, we have to deal with both the urgent and the important at the same time. And with President Obama departing for Brasilia in just a few hours, now is a good time to turn our attention from the urgent events of the day and consider another important part of the world.

"The President's trip coincides with the anniversary of a major milestone in hemispheric relations. Fifty years ago, President Kennedy launched the Alliance for Progress, pledging that the United States would join with Latin American leaders to address head-on a development challenge that was, as he put it, staggering in its dimensions. He understood that our failure to tackle poverty and inequality in Latin America could tear the social fabric and undercut democracy's prospects throughout the hemisphere. President Kennedy announced the alliance here in Washington to an audience of Latin American ambassadors at the White House. President Obama will mark this anniversary in Latin America. And I think that is fitting.

"Too few Americans have noticed that something remarkable has been happening in the region. Now, there are, of course, plenty of challenges and they often hog the headlines -- transnational crime, continuing inequality and poverty, inadequate education and so on. Now, those are challenges that apply in many cases, including in our own country.

"But the real story of Latin America today runs in a very different direction. It is a story of political transition and a broad commitment to democratic development, a story of pragmatic leaders who helped turn a once-troubled region into an area of dynamic 21st century economies and societies, a story of active new players on the global stage.

"Now in the coming days, President Obama will visit three countries -- Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador -- each is living this story in unique ways. The President will build on the pledge he made at the Summit of the Americas early in his presidency to work as 'equal partners' in a 'new chapter of engagement' based on 'mutual respect and common interests and shared values.' He and the three leaders hosting him will show, in word and deed, how much such a partnership can accomplish.

"But I want to focus on why this partnership matters to us -- what this story means for the United States: For our economic interests, as we rebuild our economy and renew our competitiveness for a new time; for our security and global strategic interests, as we design a 21st century architecture of cooperation with the help of like-minded partners; for our core values, as we promote democracy and human rights around the world; and for our society and our culture as the growing connections between our peoples make us all more vital and innovative."

Comments

Comments

Eric

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New Mexico, USA

March 19, 2011

Eric in New Mexico writes:

"Too few Americans have noticed that something remarkable has been happening in the region."

Well wait just a minute there Madam Secretary, you mean to tell me the American people haven't noticed that a vast majority of the governments south of our border along with their people have about as low an opinion of Hugo Chavez as he has of America?

I mean after all the dictators and tyrants over the years have gone to the dustbin of history in the region, every time that fat pendejo opens his mouth they seem to be covering their faces in their hands and saying "Oh no, here we go again!"

When it is very evident that it's not a good thing to have a revolution to return a people to subjugation, the rule of idiots, and see other nation's destabilized by some mafioso's agenda.

I appreciate all the good things good folks are doing for themselves and their economies but are they strong enough to tell him to "take a hike" and empower the Venuzuelan people to take a hint and some inspiration from folks in Egypt, Tunisia to secure their future?

Will Brazil for instance stand up and be in solidarity with Columbia, telling Chavez, "You don't get to do that." , when the government of Brazil can't find it in it's own interests to vote for a UN resolution to protect populations in Lybia?

Or to have the sense to tell the Russians , "Hey, we don't approve of you shipping tens of thousands of AK 47's to Chavez or anyone else in our region , for any reason."

What would impress me the most is if there was a bit more common sense manifest in this regard, politically and diplomaticly by all concerned.

We do our part to try and keep things on an even keel to allow nations to develop independantly and step into the future, but some are determined to drag everyone back into the mucky-muck of antagonistic relations and failed socio-economic totalitarian models.

That's surely not the way to eradicate poverty, inequality, or conflict in the region, so by voicing my concerns in this reghard, I hope that they'll lend the President their ears along with thir heats and minds when he asks our friends to get a grip on this.

EJ

palgye

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South Korea

March 21, 2011

Palgye in South Korea writes:

Brazil....

Brazil have never visited it, with South Korea on the other side to exist on the planet, the former President Lula and the football, I think the country is known as Carnival. For me ...

In the past, when the ruling President Lula, Brazil, 0.00000001% of the people owned the wealth of nations was a young boy, a girl from the landfill, he had been struggling to fix their meals to think. Too, believed in the success of President Lula, the results, thanks to the dedicated efforts of President Lula in Brazil, the largest country in land size in South America, the richest country is an economic foundation to think. Based ....

To the development of all countries, the country's constitution to change the appearance always seemed to think. Strengthens the internal cohesion and, at least, people provide the opportunity for economic self-sufficiency to a policy that is proposed to act, President Lula has done well to think of these roles.

However, in a newspaper article recently, China's low-cost products for the Brazilian president's strong warning, I was reading, Brazil's economy in the past, I think, after the internal integration, assuming success, appearing in times of growth hyuyujeungyi, through close ties with other countries, the occurrence of the optimum size, having a substantial sobicheung consumption It was a way to induce the production,

Be a long story makes, Then, through links with Argentina, economies of scale, the two countries as an idea of â€‹â€‹the consumer market and now are experiencing a crisis in Brazil, a strategy to escape possible, to think about.

President Lula was wonderful, we deny his achievements he would say no. However, the situation has changed, and Brazil's economy has grown dramatically, I think. Make it difficult for the glory of the past for policy today, is thought to be a serious dilemma.

Brazil's President and Prime Minister of the United States to visit, seeing the story I remember in the past.

i think, Brazil will leading south-America and firewall of finacial cricis and exit of poverty in south-America.

and Why? 13 countries?

i don`t know?

Please tell me the answer.

John M.

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United States

March 21, 2011

John M. in the U.S.A. writes:

Citizens of America and Armed Forces to join together to March on WDC to change Government

It has become necessary for Americans and its Military to join together in solidarity and march to Washington DC and demand that the current system of government be disbanded, martial law put in place until a new honest government can be organized by the American people to watch over them and protect them thru military interactions. Unemployment at 15% in the nation, jobs prostituted offshore, education too expensive, fuel too expensive and out of control, natural resources controlled by greedy barons, government elected officials including the President are traitors to the American people, business moguls need to be rounded up and placed in solitary confinement until something can be done about them, homes being lost to good law abiding Americans because the banks and other lenders have a "free pass" to do anything they wish, the American military (good soldiers) are fighting and defending the interests of business concerns and not the American people, High ranking soldiers that are traitors need to be ferreted out and arrested and tried for treason against America, hate groups of all kinds are flourishing in America unchecked and quietly encouraged by the powers that be to keep the people in confusion, no health plan for the sick, no true retirement plan for the retired, no respect for the veterans of war, failing infrastructure and the list goes on.

What can Americans do? Do what they did in Egypt and now other countries, with one exception, have the military side with the people, thus eliminating the need for too much violence. It must happen; we must change for all Americans. The constitution is outdated and needs to be re-written for the 21st century. It does allow for this: But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards of their future Security. Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Peoples; and such is now the Necessity, which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.

The American Republic 2012
AMR2012

Jet P.

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United States

March 25, 2011

J.S. in the U.S.A. writes:

It is really important to be united in order to promote the country's economy.

PST

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United States

April 11, 2011

PST in the U.S.A. writes:

I believe this trip plays a significant role in continuing to strengthen our ties with Latin America. Latin America has some of the fastest growing economies in countries such as Peru. It is essential that the US forges new ties with Latin America to stay competitive in the global market. Trade agreements such as UNASUR are making Latin America an extremely competitive player in the global economy. With its vast resources it is important the US forges bi-lateral trade agreements that will be mutually beneficial and this trip marks an important step forward in strengthening ties with Latin America.